This document summarizes a mass timber construction mini-seminar to be held on April 28th. The seminar will consist of three presentations: 1. Raymond O'Brocki will discuss fire testing and code provisions for tall mass timber buildings, focusing on cross-laminated timber. 2. Anthony Harvey will cover early design decisions that can impact cost, such as construction types, fire ratings, and integrating mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. 3. Brandon Brooks will provide an overview of mass timber products and connections for general contractors, including coordination, installation, and safety considerations.

1. Mass Timber Construction
mini-seminar
April 28th, 8 – Noon.
The class will be held at the Carpenters Regional Council Apprentice & Training Hall at 1256
Estes Ave, Elk Grove Village
Class cost is $30.
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Description
Raymond O’Brocki, CBO – Fire and Code Provisions for Tall Mass Timber
The program discusses the wood products that make tall mass timber buildings possible, with a
focus on cross laminated timber (CLT). The fire testing of CLT will be reviewed, both the ATF
lab testing and subsequent testing at the Research Institute of Sweden. The types of construction
will be outlined and some of the extra fire protection measures added to the code regarding TMT
buildings.
• Identify the make-up of the TWB Ad Hoc Committee and the process used to reach
consensus on code changes.
• Recognize how the new types of construction compare with existing types of construction
in the International Building Code and specify the inherent differences.
• Review and discuss the fire testing that has occurred on CLT and how those tests
informed the code changes.
Anthony Harvey, PE – Early Design Decisions
Mass timber is a unique, non-commodity building material and, to lay the groundwork for
success, certain critical decisions must be made as early as possible. These decisions can have a
big impact on cost and can either increase or limit opportunities later in design. There are many
cases of project teams that want to realize the full benefits of mass timber, but, because they base
their designs on traditional building practices instead of optimizing them for mass timber, end up
with avoidable price premiums. This presentation will walk through early project decisions and
design steps, focusing on how to optimize projects for mass timber and how one early decision
can influence others. Topics will include construction types, fire ratings, column grids and
beam/panel spans, acoustics, and MEP integration. Completed mass timber projects will be used
to illustrate the variety of viable options when navigating these key decisions.
• Identify construction types within the International Building Code where a mass timber
structure is permitted.
• Discuss the impacts of construction type on required fire-resistance ratings of structural
elements, noting the impacts that these ratings have on effective member spans and
resulting grids.

2. • Review code-compliance requirements for acoustics and primary frame connections and
provide solutions for meetings these requirements with tested mass timber assemblies.
• Highlight effective methods of integrating MEP services in a mass timber building and
discuss the relative impacts of each on cost, aesthetics, occupant comfort and future
tenant renovations.
Brandon Brooks, MBA, PMP – Mass Timber for General Contractors
How do general contractors meet the growing demand for mass timber buildings? While
architects and ownership groups are increasingly inspired by mass timber’s strength,
sustainability, and potential for market distinction, they are often hampered by a lack of
knowhow among seasoned construction professionals. Firms have varying degrees of familiarity
with the products and practicalities of design, potential sourcing opportunities, and differences in
applying trades to a modern mass timber structure vs. steel or concrete. This presentation is
intended to help contractors interested in pursuing mass timber better understand the nuances,
and those seeking to train their installation crews. It provides an overview of mass timber
products, connection considerations, preconstruction coordination and interactions between the
manufacturer and design/construction teams, material installation and protection, safety, and
where to seek additional cost and schedule efficiencies.
• Discuss and compare mass timber systems commonly used for buildings in the U.S.
• Describe the variety of connections that may be used with columns, beams, and panels on
a mass timber project.
• Evaluate the objectives and impacts of preconstruction coordination and how the
planning and design process differs from projects built with other materials.
• Summarize the proper installation of mass timber elements, and methods for protecting
the materials from moisture, dirt, and damage on site.
Speaker Bios
Raymond O’Brocki, CBO, is the Manager of Fire Service Relations for the
American Wood Council. Before that he was the Chief Building Official
for the City of Rockville, MD. He retired as the Assistant Fire Chief of the
Baltimore City Fire Department in 2013. He was appointed fire marshal for
Baltimore City in 2008. O’Brocki has served on several building and fire
code technical committees. He is an adjunct instructor at the National Fire
Academy and has presented at various venues around the U.S. O’Brocki is
a graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law and a licensed attorney.

3. Anthony Harvey, PE is a licensed Professional Engineer in Kentucky,
Anthony received his BS and MS in Civil Engineering from the University
of Kentucky, both with structural specialization. Before joining
WoodWorks, he spent more than a decade working as a design consultant.
He has experience in structural design, 3D modeling and detailing
(REVIT), construction administration, inspections, and project
management for a variety of project types, including healthcare, office,
retail, K-12/higher education, historical, industrial/distillery, municipal,
military, multi-family, and mixed-used buildings. Anthony is also a Major
in the United States Army Reserve where, as an Engineer Officer, he has held various leadership
and staff positions.
Brandon Brooks, MBA, PMP is an experienced project and program
manager, a seasoned policy analyst, and an incorrigible information
sponge. He recently completed a career in the Marine Corps where he led
test and evaluation efforts for acquisition projects with congressional
oversight, created an education and training roadmap for technical skills
programs, and was fortunate enough to lead and work alongside some of
our country’s greatest people. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in
Business Administration with a focus on finance from the University of
Florida, completed his MBA at Virginia Tech, and is a Project
Management Professional. He is based in Anchorage, AK.